The Board granted an initial rating of more than 10 percent for both the right and left lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy, effective from August 2023.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of moderate intermittent pain, mild numbness, and tingling warranted a separate 20 percent rating under DC 8720 for each side, in addition to the 20 percent rating under DC 8520 for each side, resulting in an overall increased initial rating.
- Claimed conditions
- right lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 23, 2025
- Citation
- A25037251
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 833 · Granted: 33% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A25037251.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal, effectively dismissing the case.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and bilateral lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy, as the appropriate effective date is June 14, 2023, the date of his Supplemental Claim.
- Granted
The Veteran's ratings for left lower femoral nerve radiculopathy, right lower femoral nerve radiculopathy, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, and right lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy were improperly reduced. The reductions are now reinstated.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right femoral nerve radiculopathy, and residuals of a right ankle fracture are being remanded due to the need for further development.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.